The Manchester City defender is battling to overcome a serious calf problem that has ruined his season.

Belgium ace Kompany returned to action on Boxing Day following five weeks on the sidelines but lasted just nine minutes before breaking down with the same problem.

City hoped their captain would be back at the end of this month but Pellegrini now admits he might not return until end of the season.

“Vincent maybe won’t return so soon, but for the last part of the season, he could be fit,” said Pellegrini.

“It is difficult for me to give you an update about Vincent.

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“Vincent is doing a lot of different things to try to understand and find the reasons why he has so many injuries”

Manuel Pellegrini

“I don’t think that he will be ready before a month.

“It’s impossible for a lot of different things, but we are trying to do what we can to recover him as soon as we can.”

Medical experts from both City AND Belgium are attempting to get to the bottom of Kompany’s problem.

He has suffered 13 calf injuries in his City career and Pellegrini said: “Vincent is doing a lot of different things to try to understand and find the reasons why he has so many injuries.”

City host Everton tomorrow night and Pellegrini has told Pep Guardiola he doesn’t have to apologise for revealing he is heading to the Premier League next season.

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THE BOSS: Pellegrini is unsure when Kompany will be back

Guardiola is red-hot favourite to replace the Chilean at the Etihad.

But the City boss added: “I don’t think he has to apologise to me.

“I’m not worried about the future.

“My duty is to do the best work here for Manchester City. My target is to try to win the Premier League this year, to try to be involved in every competition until the end, and to try to win another competition.

“If I finish the year with those achievements, I will be very happy. At that moment, I will just start to think about the future.”